Monaco, PSG win in French league

Paris March 20 (IANS) Monaco maintained their recent momentum with a 3-0 away win over Caen in Ligue 1 on Sunday to maintain a three-point lead over defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) who beat Olympique Lyon 2-1 at home.

Missing their top scorer Radamel Falcao due to a hip injury French football league leaders Monaco were boosted by an excellent performance by promising youngster Kylian Mbappe reports Xinhua news agency.

After earning his maiden call-up into the French national squad the 18-year-old sensation finished with a brace and earned a penalty in the lopsided win on Sunday evening.

Mbappe broke the deadlock on 13 minutes as he finished a one-two with fellow striker Valere Germain went past two defenders and fired a low shot past the goalkeeper.

Caen defender Damien Da Silva fouled on Mbappe shortly after the interval before Fabinho converted the penalty into a two-goal lead.

With nine minutes remaining Mbappe scored his 12th league goal of the season with a header off Joao Moutinho s cross before receiving a standing ovation from the crowd when he left the pitch.

Mbappe who has a similar style to retired French great Thierry Henry has become the target of many big-name European clubs.

Meanwhile PSG suffered an early setback as Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette scored his 23rd goal of the season with a header off a corner-kick after six minutes.

Lyon got another chance three minutes later but Mouctar Diakhaby s header was denied by PSG custodian Kevin Trapp on the goalline.

PSG scored twice during a six-minute span to turn the tables. PSG midfielder Javier Pastore produced defence splitting passes on both occassions earning Adrien Rabiot and Julian Draxler a goal each.

Also on Sunday Dijon lost to Saint-Etienne 1-0.

--IANS
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